Hi! My name is Carly, and I am the founder of The Bridge Between Animal Rescue. Founding an animal rescue has been a goal of mine ever since I realized animal rescue was my passion and purpose in this life. I have been fostering since my sophomore year of college, but my love of animals has been here long before I ever brought home my first foster dog. 
 
I have never known a life without animals. My parents are both animal lovers themselves, so I was raised with a house full of dogs and cats. I also grew up on a small piece of land that had a good bit of woods. My family and I were always finding critters in need on our property. From opossums, to birds, rabbits, chipmunks, and more, we helped every animal that crossed our path, whether that meant helping them back to their nest, taking injured animals to wildlife rehabbers, reuniting strays with their owners, or taking in strays that needed a home. I grew up in a home where helping animals wasn’t an option, but a duty. My parents taught me that all life on this earth matters, no matter how physically small that life may be. 
 
I adopted my first personal dog my freshman year of college. I wasn't looking to add a new dog into my life, but life works in mysterious ways. Levee is a Catahoula Leopard Dog mix. He was part of an accidental litter, and was being given away for free. When I met him, something sparked inside me, and as cheesy as it sounds, I know he is my soul dog, and he was meant to be my best friend in this life. He has been there through it all. Whenever I needed a shoulder to lean on, or a friend to hop in the car and adventure with, he was there, and still is. Levee has been a huge inspiration in my animal rescue journey, because I truly believe everyone needs a best friend like the one I have, and I want to help people find their Levee. 

After going through a handful of fosters, I was ready for Levee to have a friend that was here to stay, and I adopted Banks - a full blooded Catahoula female who came from a rehoming situation in Pennsylvania. Banks is living proof that you can rescue a full blooded dog if you have patience. Banks keeps Levee and I on our toes, because she is full of life and adventure. Banks is one of those dogs that was lucky to escape the shelter. Her anxiety, fearfulness, and high energy have been a challenge, but I thank God everyday that she is mine, because I would never give up on her, and do my best to set her up for a successful and happy life. She also inspires my animal rescue journey, because she taught me how important it is to make sure an animal is adopted into a home that is fit for them. I am now a believer in human- pet matchmaking versus first come first serve when it comes to adoption. 
 
I finally foster failed in 2023, adopting a small cattle dog mix named Buoy. I didn't think I'd add a third dog to the pack, but Buoy filled a void I didn't know was there, and now I finally understand what it is like to foster fail. Aside from my three heart dogs, I also have two horses, two cats, and two guinea pigs. My hands and heart may seem full, but there is so much more room for the ones who come and go. Before starting this rescue, I started a social media page called “Carly’s Critters” that helped me network with many local rescues and people involved in the rescue community. There are so many animals in need that I want to help, which is part of the reason I wanted to expand my mission, and start my own nonprofit organization. I have already been blown away with the animal rescue community I’ve become a part of, and I can’t wait to watch this organization grow and save the lives of as many animals as possible!